Still, this team could surprise with a lot of young talent. Guard Rashad McCants was a scoring machine in college, but hasn’t been healthy yet in the NBA for an extended period of time. When he has been healthy he has put in the points. Forward Mike Miller is one of the best shooters in the league and should top 20 points a game on this team. Guard Randy Foye, although a bit of a tweener guard, can score on anyone and is once again healthy after last season’s knee injury.

And oh yes, Al Jefferson should be an All-Star threat this season at power forward, a bona fide 20-point, 10-rebound machine. Understandably there are concerns about post defense with Jefferson in the middle and rookie power forward Kevin Love by his side, but both of those players will keep the glass lean and hustle every second they are on the floor. Points are not going to be a problem for the Wolves. Even if everything goes right they probably won’t be a playoff contender, but 35 wins isn’t outside the realm of possibility.

The Timberwolves look like they actually may have a
plan. They selected O.J. Mayo with the third overall pick in the draft
and then dealt him to Memphis in a deal that yielded them Kevin Love,
who was the fifth overall pick by the Grizzlies, and sharp-shooting
forward Mike Miller. Big man Al Jefferson, who averaged 21.0 points and
11.1 rebounds, is on the verge of becoming an All-Star and is the
cornerstone of the franchise. It won’t happen overnight, but the
Timberwolves have a roster full of young player who are getting better.